Thread: Crocus commonality

Was wondering how many razors were made with a crocus finish as a percentage of all razors. Reading about the process, and knowing how difficult it is to get a true mirror polish with modern equipment, I assume it wasn't really all that common but I could be wrong. Labor was cheap back then so maybe the time involved was no barrier.

You have to be careful here because many razors had a high polish which at first glance and sometimes without a frame of reference might seem to be the real deal but isn't. I suspect very few razors had a true crocus finish.

As a watch collector I know many watches which generally use 316L Stainless and I'm talking watches at a three grand price + have a very high degree of finish however a true mirror finish is rare even in this day and age. Seiko has mastered this with their Zaratsu polishing technique. However, even today it is difficult and few can do it.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

You have to be careful here because many razors had a high polish which at first glance and sometimes without a frame of reference might seem to be the real deal but isn't. I suspect very few razors had a true crocus finish.

As a watch collector I know many watches which generally use 316L Stainless and I'm talking watches at a three grand price + have a very high degree of finish however a true mirror finish is rare even in this day and age. Seiko has mastered this with their Zaratsu polishing technique. However, even today it is difficult and few can do it.

I agree with the sentiment, I have seen a few picture of original crocus finish razors and it is evident that most razors that many would consider mirror finished or polished are in fact not. Interesting you bring up watches as an example of polishing as I read an interesting article some time back about how Philippe DuFour finishes his movements, black polishing, using the pierre gommme lacque for graining, etc. Knowing how long it takes to black polish a single screwhead in a watch, the amount of real estate on a straight razor must have made the task of crocus polishing quite long.

I've done a few razor's by hand.
And yes, it is very tedious and time consuming.

Their not what I'd call mirror finished, but damn close

Close but still not truly mirror.


I too can attest to how much work that is but I also know that artisanship can be all consuming. Sometimes it becomes a quest. I think it's hard to say now just how many because of all the water under the bridge but I would guess it is few just because of the time element as mentioned.

I wonder if there are records out there anywhere, even from one maker, that showed production numbers which referenced all the various styles including finishes. I think that might paint a portion of the picture. Even if there is such documentation still in existence it is probably buried like the proverbial needle in a haystack.